The new NATO chief vowed to strengthen aid to Ukraine in order to assist the country in its defense war against Russia.
Rutte listed three key priorities for his work in the future, noting that one of them would be to strengthen support for Ukraine and bring it closer to NATO membership.
Aid to Ukraine and its NATO membership among Rutte’s key priorities
In his first speech after taking office, new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte declared, “There can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine,” reaffirming the organization’s leaders’ 2008 commitment that “Ukraine’s rightful place is in NATO.”
Russian leader Putin’s invasion forces are making advances in the east of Ukraine, and Russian troops poured dailed drone and missile attacks at Ukrainian cities. Ukraine’s armed forces still need more weapons to repel Russians, especially long-range missiles, and the possibility to strike military targets inside Russia to stike back and prevent those attacks.
“The cost of supporting Ukraine is far, far lower than the cost we would face if we allowed Putin to get his way,” Rutte told reporters, a few hours after his predecessor Jens Stoltenberg handed the reins to him, along with a Viking gavel with which to chair future meetings.
But Ukraine’s NATO membership remains a distant prospect. Several member countries, led by the U.S. and Germany, believe that Ukraine should not join while it’s fighting a war. Rutte did not speculate on the requirements for joining NATO.
In this context, Mark Rutte mentioned China, particularly its support for Putin. “China has become a decisive enabler of Russia’s war in Ukraine. China cannot continue to fuel the largest conflict in Europe since the Second World War without impacting its interests and reputation,” he said.
Rutte is ready to collaborate with any next US President
Mark Rutte expressed confidence in his ability to collaborate with the next president of the United States, the NATO’s most powerful member, following the election in November.
NATO’s new secretary general underlined the importance of keeping the transatlantic bond between the United States, Canada, and Europe strong, with the US presidential elections just a month away.
Surveys say the US presidential election will be a close race. It could lead to the return of Donald Trump, whose bluster during his last term of office about low defense spending among European allies and Canada undermined the trust of NATO member countries, VoE reported.
“I know both candidates very well,” Rutte said. He praised Trump for pushing NATO allies to spend more and for toughening their approach toward China. He also hailed the “fantastic record” of Vice President Kamala Harris and described her as “a highly respected leader.”
“I will be able to work with both. Regardless of the outcome of the election”, Mark Rutte expressed his readiness to collaborate with any next US President.
As Dutch Prime Minister, Rutte supported Ukraine
Earlier, previsous NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg had welcomed Mark Rutte to NATO headquarters in Brussels for the change of leadership.
Stoltenberg, NATO’s 13th secretary-general, took over in 2014, the year that Russian forces invaded Ukraine and the Kremlin annexed the Crimean Peninsula, which was followed by the start of a war in Donbas.
Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician and former country Prime Minister. He replaced Jens Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General on October 1.
As Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rutte actively supported Ukraine during the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war.
During his tenure, Ukraine received fighter jets, ammunition, and other weapons from the Netherlands.
